COVID-19 Reality Check : 34.5 Million Infected, 1 Million Dead!

The world ended September 2020 with a million people dead from COVID-19, out of 34.5 million people infected worldwide.

Is the end in sight? What works against COVID-19, and what doesn’t? Here is our reality check on COVID-19 in the final quarter of 2020…

 

COVID-19 Reality Check : 34.5 Million Infected, 1 Million Dead

Let’s start with this reality check – over 34.5 million people have been infected by COVID-19, with over a million of them dead.

Worst Affected Countries

While COVID-19 may have originated in China, the Chinese successfully tackled it – with just over 85K cases in total, and new cases only in double digits since April 2020.

Despite Donald Trump’s continued claims that the United States did very well, the US takes the crown with almost 7.4 million cases and almost 210,000 deaths.

They are followed by India, with almost 6.5 million cases and just over 101,000 deaths. In third place, Brazil has almost 4.9 million cases, with 145,000 deaths – no thanks to its President, Jair Bolsonaro.

 

We Barely Flattened The Curve On New Infections

While many countries have successfully flattened the curve, COVID-19 is a pandemic of truly global proportions.

Even with travel restrictions, it just takes a few countries to make bad judgements and let the SARS-CoV-2 virus continue spreading.

While the world appeared to flatten the curve in April, COVID-19 started to surge in June, finally exceeding 300,000 new cases per day by the end of July.

The five most affected countries above – the US, India, Brazil, Russia and Colombia – account for over 60% of all new COVID-19 cases per day.

We Barely Flattened The Curve On Deaths

The only good news is that the doctors are getting better at diagnosing and treating COVID-19, flattening the curve on deaths.

However, that still means an average of 5,000 people die every day from COVID-19, because more and more people are getting infected.

 

COVID-19 Reality Check : What Works?

After nine months, we now have a good idea of what works against COVID-19.

Face Masks

Despite what populist politicians like Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro may tell you, FACE MASKS WORK.

Look at the number of new COVID-19 cases for these four countries which mandated the wearing of face masks in public.

They account for under 145,000 cases in total (0.42%), even though they have a combined population of 1.52 billion (19.5%).

Recommended : Face Mask vs COVID-19 : Should You Wear One?

While N95 masks are the gold standard, surgical masks work just as well. Even cotton face masks offer some protection.

More importantly, face masks do not just protect us from being infected, they also prevent asymptomatic COVID-19 patients from spreading it to other people!

So wear your face mask when you go out, to protect yourself and to protect other people.

Recommended : Surgical Mask : How To Correctly Wear + Remove!

Washing Hands

Regularly washing your hands with soap and water is definitely the best way to protect yourself from accidentally infecting yourself by touching a contaminated surface.

Soap easily breaks down enveloped RNA viruses like the SARS-CoV-2, by dissolving their protective fat membrane. Just make sure you scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds, before washing it off.

But keep an alcohol-based hand sanitiser handy for times when soap and water are not easily available.

As long as the hand sanitiser has 60% to 95% alcohol concentration, it will dissolve the virus fat membrane. Just make sure you rub the hand sanitiser all over your hands until they are completely dry.

Recommended : Soap vs Sanitiser : Which Works Better Against COVID-19?

Social Distancing

Social distancing also works against COVID-19, because it primarily spreads by droplets that are generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks.

These droplets are too heavy to hang in the air. They quickly fall on floors or surfaces, usually within 6 feet.

Hence, the recommendation to socially distance ourselves in public – keeping 6 feet or further away from other people.

And the ultimate method to socially-distance? Just stay at home and avoid going out.

Face Shields + Googles

It was discovered very early during the pandemic that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can infect people through the eyes. That does not mean you should wear face shields when you go out.

Infections through the eye are comparatively rare. You are far more likely to get infected by breathing in infectious droplets.

It is mainly a concern for those who come in close contact with COVID-19 patients. Hence, healthcare workers use face shields or googles to protect their eyes while they treat patients.

Face shields are also used to protect younger children who cannot or refuse to wear a face mask.

Recommended : DIY Face Shield : An Easy Way To Make / Mass Produce!

Remdesivir

Remdesivir was shown in a double-blind randomised trial by the US NIH to reduce the recovery time of COVID-19 patients from 15 days to 11 days.

However, it is not a cure, since it does not appear to reduce mortality. In other words, it will not reduce your risk of dying from COVID-19, but if you survive, it appears to reduce how long you need to be hospitalised.

In fact, the same study concluding that “given high mortality despite the use of remdesivir, it is clear that [it] is not likely to be sufficient“.

While remdesivir is approved for medical or emergency use against COVID-19 in several countries, the science does not currently show that it can actually cure COVID-19.

Dexamethasone

While not a cure, the RECOVERY trial in the UK showed that dexamethasone (an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid) has some beneficial effect against COVID-19 :

  • patients on ventilators : reduces mortality by about 1/3
  • patients requiring oxygen : reduces mortality by about 1/5
  • patients not on ventilator or oxygen support : no benefit

 

COVID-19 Reality Check : What Does Not Work?

Now, this is important. As of 3 October 2020, there is NO APPROVED TREATMENT for COVID-19.

Keep that in mind when we go through this list of what (currently) does not work :

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)

Hydroxychloroquine has been tested in large, randomised clinical trials and found to :

As a result, both trials dropped hydroxychloroquine in June and July 2020.

More importantly, hydroxychloroquine has health risks, and you should NOT take it on your own, without consulting a doctor.

People have died after taking hydroxychloroquine after Donald Trump advocated it.

Recommended : Hydroxycholoroquine Risk : Death From Cardiac Arrest

Bleach + UV Light

They are both Donald Trump’s favourite cures, but they really cannot cure or treat COVID-19.

Bleach and UV light may help in cleaning contaminated surfaces, but soap (which is safer) works just as well.

Since bleach is poisonous, drinking or injecting bleach as he suggested could kill you.

And while Donald Trump has suggested shoving a UV light tube into your body, he may enjoy it as his sexual fetish, but it won’t work against COVID-19.

Coffee + Tea

As much as we enjoy both coffee and tea, neither can be used to prevent, treat or cure COVID-19. Seriously.

Don’t believe us? We debunked them both earlier :

Vitamins

Sorry but vitamins won’t fortify your body against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Viruses take over your cells to replicate, and all the better if they are well-fortified with nutrients.

That is why a vaccine is important – it will teach your body’s defences how to fight off the virus before you get infected.

 

COVID-19 : How To Keep Safe!

Here are a few simple steps to stay safe from COVID-19 :

Recommended : Soap vs Sanitiser : Which Works Better Against COVID-19?
Recommended : Surgical Mask : How To CORRECTLY Wear + Remove!
Recommended : COVID-19 Food Safety : Fruits, Vegetables, Takeouts

 

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